When it comes to staying cool in Hong Kong’s summers, the obstacles to this are two-fold: the blistering heat, and the humidity that comes with being a coastal city. In a city with summers where temperatures can easily reach the high 30s in degrees Celsius, and humidity levels stay at a consistent 86-87%, staying cool in Hong Kong is sometimes not just a matter of convenience, but also a necessity in staying healthy and safe. So how do you stay cool? Standard advice includes going for a swim, turning on air conditioning and staying hydrated. In this article we intend to look beyond these basic suggestions, with a few more tips for tackling the heat as we approach the summer ahead.
1. Let Air Flow!
Keep rooms within your apartment nicely ventilated. Open windows throughout your home for at least a few hours a day and let air currents flow freely – you may even get a gentle breeze. A well ventilated house can often stay up to 10 degrees cooler than outside maximum temperatures reported by your local weatherman. This is significant, particularly during the months between June and August.
2. Make Material Choices
Clothes naturally insulate heat, but the degree in which they do so varies according to the type of material they are made of, as well as their color.
Synthetic materials like polyester tend to either trap or absorb moisture and will catch your sweat and cling to your skin, making you feel incredibly uncomfortable. Cotton fabrics in summer clothes tend to allow moisture to evaporate into the air more easily than polyester fabrics. While cotton is generally superior to synthetic fabrics in humid summers, linen serves as an even better fabric of choice. Its weave and material are considered to be more breathable than cotton, to the point where it almost does not insulate heat at all. Of course, one thing to keep in mind if you are wearing linen is that you might need to carry around a jacket for heavily air-conditioned areas (of which there are many in Hong Kong!). It is a bit of a double edged sword in this regard, but if you’re going to be spending the day outside, linen is an excellent choice.
The color of your clothes is also important. Light summer colors are not just a fashion trend. Dark colors absorb more sunlight and heat than light colors. Adding to this is the fitting of your clothes. Loose fitting clothing allows more ventilation on your person and it may be worth keeping those skinny jeans in your closet during this time of year.
In general, be sure to opt for light-colored, short sleeved, linen clothes if you want to keep cool.
3. Value Natural Beauty
Go light on makeup and hair products. Makeup covers the pores of your skin, hindering your ability to cool yourself by sweating. Hair products also add weight, mass, and thickness to your hair, increasing your hair’s insulating capabilities. If you want, you could even cut your hair short for the summer months.
4. Time Your Exposure
Aim to keep strenuous activity limited to either the early hours of the morning (before 10am) or late afternoon (after 4pm). Reserve relaxed and sedentary activities for the hours in between, as this is the time when the sun burns the brightest. The young and elderly should especially take this advice into consideration.
If you are going outdoors during the hotter hours, be sure to put on sunscreen (tip: if you’re looking to get a suntan, it is recommended that you opt for a suntan lotion with an SPF of 10-25). Sunburnt skin is less capable of releasing heat from your body than healthy skin, and also causes you to lose body fluids.
5. Cook Less, Eat Right
Different types of foods take different amounts of time for your body to metabolize and digest. The issue with this in summer is that metabolism increases your internal body heat. You will want to avoid foods that are “thermogenic”, or those tending to produce heat through metabolism. Proteins are by far the most thermogenic nutrients, with a thermic effect of 30%, compared to fats with approximately 3%, and carbohydrates averaging around 7%.
In addition, try to adapt your diet to include more raw foods. Try recipes that don’t require boiling water, or the use of an oven. Eating foods that are not only cool but also hydrate you offer two benefits for the price of one. Keeping a stock of watermelons at home might just be nature’s gift to help you through the summer!
